The Ivy League colleges in the United States are not only known as the most difficult universities in the United States to enter, but also the most competitive universities. In the eyes of international students, admission into these Ivy League colleges is a symbol of recognition, and it is also beneficial for future employment and further education. The eight American Ivy League colleges are Princeton University, Harvard University, Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, Yale University, Columbia University and Dartmouth College.
Strive for an excellent GPA
Admissions officers at Ivy League schools want the best possible grades from applicants, a prerequisite for applying and getting into a school.
While in some cases, applicants with low GPAs do get admission, but this is very often an exception. So, what is the average GPA for applicants to get into an Ivy League school?
Average GPA scores for the 8 Ivy League Colleges
- Brown University: GPA 4.05
- Columbia University: GPA 4.14
- Cornell University: GPA 4.05
- Dartmouth College: GPA 4.06
- Harvard University: GPA 4.18
- University of Pennsylvania: GPA 3.85
- Princeton University: GPA 3.91
- Yale University: GPA 4.12
Keep in mind that these are the applicants’ average GPAs. Because of this, you should consider these figures more as benchmarks than as ultimate objectives. Your chances of admission will only improve if you can achieve a higher GPA. Although GPA plays a big role, it does not by itself get you into an Ivy League school.
The reason why many applicants have a much higher-grade point average than a 4.0 is because most applicants take advanced courses with weighted grade points. This means taking honors classes, AP classes and IB classes. High school students interested in Ivy League schools should take advanced courses to demonstrate that they have the determination to challenge themselves and that they can handle the rigors and pressures of an Ivy League colleges program.
Get top-notch standardized test scores
If getting a good GPA is the first requirement for getting into an Ivy League school, then of course the second requirement is getting a good SAT or ACT score. Like GPA, getting a good grade on a standardized test isn’t enough to get into Ivy League colleges in 2026, but it does strengthen student’s resume.
Here are the 25th and 75th percentiles for the U.S. Ivy League schools. The 25th percentile represents below-average scores, and the 75th percentile represents above-average scores. Remember, the perfect score for the ACT is 36 and the perfect score for the SAT is 1600.
Average ACT and SAT Scores for the 8 Ivy League Colleges
- Brown University
ACT range
25th percentile: 32
75th percentile: 35
SAT range
25th percentile: 1420
75th percentile: 1550
- Columbia University
ACT range
25th percentile: 33
75th percentile: 35
SAT range
25th percentile: 1450
75th percentile: 1560
- Cornell University
ACT range
25th percentile: 32
75th percentile: 34
SAT range
25th percentile: 1390
75th percentile: 1540
- Dartmouth University
ACT range
25th percentile: 31
75th percentile: 35
SAT range
25th percentile: 1420
75th percentile: 1560
- Harvard University
ACT range
25th percentile: 33
75th percentile: 35
SAT range
25th percentile: 1460
75th percentile: 1580
- University of Pennsylvania
ACT range
25th percentile: 32
75th percentile: 35
SAT range
25th percentile: 1440
75th percentile: 1560
- Princeton University
ACT range
25th percentile: 32
75th percentile: 35
SAT range
25th percentile: 1440
75th percentile: 1570
- Yale University
ACT range
25th percentile: 33
75th percentile: 35
SAT range
25th percentile: 1450
75th percentile: 1560
It is recommended that applicants spend sufficient time preparing for the exam of your choice. In fact, it is not uncommon for applicants to start preparing for the exam in the summer before their senior year. It should also be remembered that in order to achieve the best possible results in hopes of getting into Ivy League colleges, it is very common to take the exam two or three times.
Invest time in the right extracurricular activities
This is where applicants can really differentiate themselves from other applicants they compete with around the world.
In the past, it was believed that applicants should be as well-rounded as possible. This means admissions officers want to see applicants spending time outside of the classroom participating in many different — simply put, a ton of — activities. Applicants will play a variety of team sports, compete in school games, compete in academic competitions, and try to do community service throughout high school to prove they are a do-it-all.
Now, it’s more about having applicants demonstrate that they are fully engaged in some extracurricular activity, that they are highly enthusiastic and interested in. It’s better for applicants to get involved in activities related to their future goals, whether that’s what they want to focus on in their undergraduate education, or even when they start pursuing their first job after college.
The most effective method currently is for applicants to become “experts” in their chosen extracurricular activities and to demonstrate their amazing talent and ability through what they do to Ivy League colleges admissions teams.
Art experts or creative people put a lot of effort into art, theatre, music, writing, or any other artistic field that interests them. They’ll land starring roles, compete in national or international competitions, and even hopefully win some awards. Science specialists will get involved in their school science club, form a team for the Science Olympiad, try to work in a research lab at a nearby community college, or even participate in one of the summer science programs at an Ivy League school.
The same concept applies to applicants with an interest in engineering, math, law, public policy, or other education or industry!
In conclusion, admissions officers are interested in how students select their extracurricular activities and utilize their free time. They want to see that high school students can achieve success, act as leaders among their peers, and eventually become an industry leader. Your chances of being accepted into Ivy League colleges will significantly increase if you can convince them that you are resolute and up to the task.
Write an excellent college essay and get impressive letters of recommendation
These two aspects of every US Ivy League colleges application often work together in some very interesting ways. This is one of the few opportunities an applicant has to genuinely demonstrate themselves to admissions officers. Applicants should make sure to spend considerable time figuring out the best way to approach the essay before they start writing.
Some applicants feel that the best way for them to write a great essay is to write some unique or rare point of view that they have gained through experience. However, it might be better explained this way: The best college application essays are those that look at the mundane from a unique perspective. The school does not expect every applicant to the school to come from humble beginnings or overcome some of life’s incredible challenges. But they do want each applicant to have a strong sense of self and a sense of perspective. So think about those moments that have a big impact on you personally — no matter how small or inconsequential they seem. In fact, applicants can use this process as a self-reflection for themselves.
When it comes to recommendation letters, they provide admissions officers the chance to see the relationship you have built with your teachers or professors. As an applicant, your job is to build strong relationships so teachers can write good things about you. It’s also important that you get the full attention of any teacher you want to write for you. It is common for applicants to approach the teacher of their choice at the end of their high school junior year to ensure that the teacher is willing and able to write great letters. Beyond that, meeting with teachers and counselors who will be writing letters of recommendation can be very helpful. Of course, applicants are not advised to tell teachers what they want them to write, but it would be helpful for them to talk about your overall application, the strengths you plan to emphasize, and how you choose to “brand” yourself in your application.
Next, you may be interested in How to get that letter of recommendation.
